David william allman



D. W ALLMAN. GAS WATER HEATER. APPLICATION FlLE,D,DEC-18, 1915.

1,336,937. Patented Apr. 13, 192% 32 wwidm Fi .3. 7MWWA UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE.

DAVID WILLIAM ALLMAN, OF TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA.

GAS WATEB-HEATER.

Application filed December 18, 1915.

To all whom. it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, DAVID WILLIAM ALL- MAN, a subject of the King ofGreat Britain, and resident of the city of Toronto, county of York,Province of Ontario, in the Dominion of Canada, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Gras lVater-Heaters, as described in thefollowing specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings,that form part of the same.

The principal objects of the invention are, to obviate the difficultiesusually met with in controlling the consumption of fuel in gas waterheaters and to eliminate the possibility of fuel being used longer thandesired.

A further object is to supply a small quantity of hot water in thequickest possible time and without requiring the heating of the mainbody of the water to the same temperature.

A still further object is to obstruct the circulation of air around thehot water reservoir when the gas is turned ofi so as to avoidunnecessary cooling of the water and to devise a heater of very simpleand cheap construction which cannot readily get out of order and iseasily repaired.

The principal features of the invention consist in the novelconstruction and arrangement of parts, whereby the water is primarilyheated in a reservoir and circu-- lated through a superheater to thedraw 01f connection, and whereby the control of the gas to the burnersis effected by a fluid control adapted to open the gas passage to theburner and to automatically close the same and whereby the flue leadingfrom the heater is automatically closed immediately after the extinctionof the burners.

In the drawings Figure 1 represents a diagrammatic vertical sectionalview of a heater and control apparatus constructed in accordance withthis invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical mid-sectional view of the distancecontrol device.

3 is an enlarged vertical mid-sectional view of the control meansoperated by the distance control and the connections thereto.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is a cylindrical casing supported uponsuitable legs 2 on a base 3 which base is provided with a Specificationof Letters Patent;

Patented Apr. 13, 1920.

Serial No. 87,569.

tapered bottom and a central vent opening i which may be connected to asuitable drain.

5 is a boiler having a plurality of vertical tubes 6 eXtending from topto bottom, being open at the ends. The boiler rests upon the lugs T onthe upper ends of the legs and is spaced from the inner wall of thecylindrical casing 1.

8 is a large central tube in the boiler 5 open at the ends.

9 is a water supply pipe leading into the boiler 5 and discharging at apoint close to the bottom.

10 is a pipe extending across the upper end of the casing lbeing closedat one end and supporting a manifold 11 to which a plurality of tubes 12are secured. These tubes extend downwardly through the tubes 6 of theboiler being arranged centrally therein and are connected together atthe bottom by a manifold 13.

14". is a large tube arranged within'the central tube 8 and connectedcentrally to the upper and lower manifolds.

The pipe 10 is connected to a T 15 leading to the draw off pipe 16.

17 is a pipe connected to the top of the boiler and having atits outerend a T 18.

19 is a vertical check valve arranged between the Ts 15 and 18 adaptedto allow water to flow downwardly but checking upward flow.

20 is a pipe leading downwardly from the T 18 and connected at thebottom to a branch 21 leading into the bottom of the boiler, a checkvalve 22loeing arranged in said branch, allowing inflow but preventingoutflow from the boiler. The pipe 20 continues downwardly and isconnected to the manifold 13.

23 is a burner arranged below the manifold 13 having a gas supply pipe24 leading thereto, said pipe 2 1 having a union connection 25 arrangedin the horizontal portion.

26 is a valve chamber secured to the upper end of the pipe 24 and formedwith the transverse passages 27 and 28 which are interconnected at oneend by a passage 29 and at the other end by a passage 30, the latterpassage having a valve seat 31 at the under side.

32 is a valve adapted to close upwardly against the seat 31 being heldthereto by a spring 33 encircling the upper end of the stem 34.

35 is a flexible diaphragm arranged at the upper end of the valve stemand sealing the gas valve chamber.

36 is a gas supply pipe connected to the passage 29.

37 is a stop cock in the passage 27 and is adapted to be closed onlywhen it is desired to make repairs.

38 is a stop cock in the passage 28 adapted to be opened only when it isdesired to have the main burner burning constantly.

39 is a pipe leading from the passage 29 and carrying a constant burningpilot light 40 at its inner end arranged adjacent to the main burner.

41 is a cylindrical casing rigidly supported upon a head 42 secured tothe valve chamber 26 and having its axis centrally arranged above thestem of the gas valve 32 and above the diaphragm 35.

The head 42 is formed with an upwardly projecting stem 43 having acentral vertical orifice 44.

45 is a pipe leading from the bottom of the casing 41 and discharginginto the base 3.

46 is a cylindrical casing slidably arranged within the casing 41 closedat its bottom end and open at the top and having a tube 47 extendingcentrally therethrough and rigidly secured therein. The lower end of thetube 47 extends through the bottom of the casing 46 and is formed with avalve seat 48.

49 are holes arranged in the lower end of the tube 47 communicating withthe in terior of the casing 46. The upper end of the tube 47 extendsthrough the top of the casing 46.

50 is a nut secured in the upper end of the tube 47 and 51 is a memberthreaded in said nut and detachably connected to a chain 52 suspendedfrom a chain wheel 53 secured to a spindle 54journaled in the flue 55leading from the top of the casing 1, said spindle carrying a damper 56adapted to close the flue.

57 is a counter-balance secured to the spindle 54 and adapted to swingthe damper to the closed position.

58 is a cylindrical bucket surrounding and secured to the tube 47 withinthe easing 46 and arranged midway of its length, sald bucket having dripopenings 59 in the bottom of lesser area than the openings 49 111 thelower end of the tube. The top of the bucket 58 is covered with wiregauze 60.

61 1s a valve rod slidably arranged in the tube 47 and extendingdownwardly into the orifice 44 in the head 42 of the casing 41 beingadapted to engage the upper side of the diaphragm 35. 7

62 is a valve on the rod 61 adapted to close toward the valve seat atthe lower end of the tube 47.

63 is a shield secured on the rod 61 below the valve and adapted toguide the water flowing through the tube 47 clear of the stem 43 of thehead 42.

The member 51 is adjusted so that when the bucket is filled and by itsweight carries the casing 46 downwardly the upper end of the valve rod61 engages same and holds the valve 62 a short distance from its seat sothat the water will escape slowly from the said casing 46.

64 is a tube leading from the top of the casing 41 and carried to anysuitable place from where it may be desired to control the heater.

65 is a valve casing arranged at the upper end of the tube 64 andconnected with a water supply pipe 66.

67 is a valve closing the water supply.

68 is a plunger slidably arranged in a cylindrical passage 69 andadapted on being pressed inward to engage and open the valve 67. Theplunger is formed with a longitudinal channel 7 0 through the centerdischarging into the tube 64. The spindle of the valve 67 is providedwith a valve 71 adapted to close the channel when the plunger engagesthe valve.

72 is a passage leading upwardly from the water inlet.

73 is a glass cylinder secured to the top "of the valve casing 65 andopen to the passage 72.

74 is a tube extending through the upper end of the passage 72 into andto the top of the cylinder 73, said tube having holes 75 at the topopening within the cylinder. The lower end of the tube 74 leads to theplunger passage 69 and the plunger is formed with an annular groove 76to allow the water entering the tube to flow to the tube 64.

In the operation of this device when it is desired to heat the water theplunger 68 is pushed inwardly opening the valve 67 allowing the water toflow into the cylinder 73. This cylinder preferably holds just enoughWater to fill the bucket 58 but may be larger if desired. Upon therelease of the plunger the water in the cylinder flows through thechannel 70 to the tube 64 and is conveyed thereby to the open endedcasing 46 and discharges into the bucket.

As. the water flows into the bucket the weight overcomes the counterbalance 57 and opens the damper 56. The rod 61 is engaged by the member51 and the lower end engages the diaphragm 35 and opens the gas valve 32and the gas flowing to the burner is ignited and 14 connected by themanifolds 13 and 11 and also heats the water in the main boiler.

If a quick supply of hot water is needed it is drawn directly from thesmall tubes on the opening of the tap. The supply to the tubes isobtained from the top of the boiler through the pipes 17 and 20 so thatafter the heater has been once put into operation the water supply tothe superheater is al- YHYS 111111.

\Vhen the heater is allowed to burn for any extended period the watercirculates through the pipes 17, 20 and 21 as well as through thesuperheater pipes. Simultaneously with the opening of the gas valve thevalve 62 on the rod 61 moves close to the lower end of the tube 4.7 andthe water dripping from the bucket into the casing 4.6 from where itflows through the holes 49 in the tube and out around the valve 62,escaping from the casing ll by way of the pipe 45. The weight of thewater in the bucket and casing 46 holds the gas valve open a definiteperiod according to the setting of the member 51 and the valve 62. Whenthe predetermined amount of water has escaped from the casing d6 thecounter-balance begins to lift the same and first releases the gas valveallowing same to close and the continued upward movement closes theflue, thus preventing a draft of cold air through the heater. Thelifting of the casing '16 allows the valve rod 61 to drop and the valve62 to move farther from the end of the tube 47 thus allowing the quickescape of the remainder of the water which cleans off the valve and thusprevents the fouling of the drip opening. The pilot light remainsburning and it is found in practice the heat from this light will besufiicient to maintain the water within the boiler at a constanttemperature of approximately 100 degrees. If hot water is required atany time it is merely necessary to operate the plunger in the and themain burner will be immediately lighted, thus providing an almostinstantaneous supply of hot water from the superheater.

If it is desired to maintain a constant large supply of hot water thestop cock 38 is opened to allow a constant flow of any desired degree tothe main burner. This does not interfere in any way with the operationof the control device herein described.

Any desired number of operating gages may be connected with the tube 64but if more than one of these are operated simultaneously the surpluswater merely over flows from the casing 46. The casing 4-6 is made tocontain a greater quantity of water than the gage so that if an extrasupply of hot water is desired the gage may be filled two or three timesin succession to fill the said casing 4:6.

In the event of the plunger 68 being held open over long the water willescape through the tube 74.

It will be readily understood from this description that unnecessary anda prolonged burning of gas is absolutely prevented and the consequentloss and danger is avoided.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In a gas water heater the combinationwith a self closing gas valve, of a fluid container arranged to opensaid gas valve by gravity pressure of the weight of fluid containedtherein. said containers being adapted to automatically discharge thefluid therefrom so that when the weight is discharged the gas valveisreleased and allowed to close, and manually operated means for placingoperating fluid in said container in predetermined quantity.

2. In a gas water heater, the combination with a self closing gas valve,of a fluid container vertically suspended from a counter balance andadapted upon receiving a predetermined quantity of fluid to open saidgas valve, said container being adapted to gradually discharge the fluidautomatically and ultimately release the gas valve allowing it to close,and manually operated means for placing a predetermined quantity offluid in said container.

3. In a gas water heater, the combination with a self closing gas valve,of a fluid container suspended from a counter balance and adapted uponreceiving a predetermined quantity of fluid to open said gas valve, saidcontainer having an opening in the bottom adapted to discharge thefluid, a valve rod slidably supported in said container adapted toengage and operate the valve, a valve on said rod adapted to restrictthe flow of fluid from said container when the gas valve is open and toopen Wide the port upon the release of a predetermined quantity offluid, means for adjusting said valve rod and valve, and means forplacing a predetermined quantity of fluid in said container.

4:. In a gas water heater, the combination with a self closing gasvalve, of a fluid container arranged to operate said gas valve bygravity pressure and adapted to automatically discharge the fluid andultimately release the gas valve and allow it to close, a rigid fluidreceptacle connected with a fluid supply, a tube leading from saidreceptacle to said movable fluid container, and a manually operatedvalve adapted to be operated to allow a desired quantity of fluid toflow into said receptacle and to then deliver the fluid to said tube.

5. In a gas water heater. the combination with. a self closing gas valveof a fluid container arranged to operate said gas valve by gravitypressure and adapted to automatically discharge the fluid and ultimatelyrelease the gas valve and allow it to close, a rigid fluid receptacleconnected with a fluid supply and adapted to show the quantity of fluidtherein, a tube leading from said receptacle to said container, and amanually operated valve adapted to open the receptacle to the fluidsupply, and upon closing said supply to open said receptacle to said tue.

6. In a gas Water heater, a burner, a valve controlling the supply ofgas to said burner, a fluid container arranged to operate said gas valveby gravity pressure and adapted to automatically discharge the fluid andultimately release the gas valve and allow it to close, a tubedischarging into said container, a gage casing arranged at the upper endof said tube and connected With a fluid supply, a valve closing thefluid supply, plunger adapted to open said valve to allow the entranceof the fluid to the gage casing, and a passage in said plunger adaptedto al 3 low the escape of the fluid from said casing to the tube leadingto the container.

7. In a gas Water heater, the combination With the gas valve, the boilerand the flue leading therefrom, of a counterbalanced 2 damper rotatablyarranged in said flue, fluid controlled means for controlling the valvesuspended from said counterbalanced damper.

DAVID WILLIAM ALLMAN.

